In Reply The Society of Critical Care Medicine and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine convened an expert panel on sepsis for the purpose of reexamining definitions of sepsis and sepsis shock. The task force comprised recognized world leaders with expertise in sepsis pathophysiology, clinical trials, and epidemiology. It included leaders from 8 countries. The task force’s subsequent work was endorsed by 31 additional societies around the world.

The Society of Critical Care Medicine and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine acknowledge that medicine and academic excellence is always better and more robust when encompassing the viewpoints, expertise, and experience of many. Collaborations and partnerships from across medicine and across countries are essential if the 2 societies are to advance the care of the millions of patients worldwide who have or are at risk of developing sepsis. On this fundamental point we could not agree with the letter writers more.